cuts to go back to the clinton era rates for the wealthiest americans. maybe that means finding a really creative tax reform that eliminates deductions almost entirely for the wealthy. these are possible see teas. it's hard for me to imagine that either side is really hoping to go over the cliff at this point because they both know what it means for the economy and they are both worried about making that responsibility. at this point it doesn't make any sense to suggest that you're the one who is going to blink because that's going to put you sort of in the underposition of the negotiations. >> let me switch subjects completely because this is sort of the provocative headline. new york city mayor bloomberg called hillary clinton and said you should be my successor as mayor. how do you think that conversation went? i think being a mayor of new york city gives you an opportunity to imagine things that are possible but not in real life. i can imagine how hillary clinton would be enticed to take on that smaller stage after her staging as the nation and the world for the last decade. >

up to the clinton levels and, you know, we do have a strong interest in simplifying the tax code. but if that's politically for difficult, there's a willingness to retain the deductions that they could utilize. >> let me ask you about that. another interesting scenario played out with mitch mcconnell, essentially fill lee bust sistering his own bill. he says it has to guarantee that there won't be another debt ceiling crisis. but could that be where we're headed? >> well, it's certainly possible. it would be a terrible outcome and i think you're hearing business leaders weigh in and say, we don't want to go through this debate only to be followed by another big fight over the debt limit. and we just can't afford every year, every 18 months to have a debate about whether we honor the full faith and credit of the u.s. government. that's no way to run the country. >> what do you think the chances of that happening? >> it's possible. one of the things that the republicans might get as part of this package is another opportunity to make their case around the debt ceiling. but there ought t